Improvement in washing-machines



'2 Sheets-Snes.'J M. M. SANDERS. Washing-Machine..

No. 205,424. .Patentegd June 25,1878,

Unrrnn S'rairns- Par fr MERVIN M. SANDERS, OF NEW BALTIMORE, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT iN WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Leticrs Patent N0. 205,424, (lated June1878; application filed March '7, R378.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MERvIN M. SANDERs, of New Baltimore, in the countyof Macomb and State of Michigan, have invented an Improvement inWashing-Machines, of which the following is a specification:

The nature of my invention relates to certain new and usefulimprovements in that class of washing-machines which operate as beaters,and not as rubbers or by friction; and the invention consists in thenovel construction and arrangement of the various parts, as more fullyhereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation, with a portion ofthe caseremoved to show the interior arrangement of parts. Fig. 2 is aperspective view ofthe sliding beater detached. Fig. 3 is across-section on the line ma: in Fig. 1. Fig. et is a similar view onthe line y y in Fig. 2.

Like letters referto like parts in each iigure.

In the drawings, A represents a rectangular tub or case, divided intotwo chambers, B and C, the former being the operating-chamber and thelatter a well. The division-wall D is perforated in its lower half, toallow the water used to pass freely from one chamber to the other. Y

E is a faucet or cock, by means of which the water is drawn from themachine at will.

In the bottom of the case there are metallic rails or plates, ofnon-corrosive material, upon which the beater travels. These rails orplates are shown in Fig. 3, and are marked F F.

Gr is the beater or compressor, made of -wooden plates a, securedtogether, leaving spaces or intervals b between them by the transverseties c, and the whole is mounted upon non corrosive metallic wheels d,which are to run upon the tracks F. Pivoted at their upper ends, andbetween the lower half 0f the plates a in the operating face of thebeater, so as to lill the spaces or intervals between said plates, arethe valves h, so arranged and constructed that when the machine is inuse, and the beater pushed toward the partition wall D, the valves willcompletely close the lower half of the intervals, and, with the frontedges of the plates, present the appearance of a solid wall, and whenthe beater is retracted the resistance of the water will compel saidvalves to open, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Guides H, onesecured to each inner side of the tub and near the top, prevent thebeater from floating in the water.

To the beater, and to the end opposite to the operating face, ispivoted, in any conven ient manner, the arm I, to which, outside thecase, is pivoted the operating-lever J.

rEhe machine thus constructed is ready for operation. The clothes to becleansed are placed in the chamber B, between the beater G and thedivision-wall D, with a suitable supply of water, and soap, if wanted.The beater is then forced against them, compressing them against thedivision-wall, and forc ing the water through them and the perforationsin said wall and into the well C, thereby raising the water in the wellabove the level of the water in the chamber B, the compressed clothinglying against the perforations conning the water in the well until thebeater is retracted, when the pressure of the water in the well will, inits escape, turn the clothes partially over, so as to present the edgeof the compressed pile to the action of the beater in its nextreciprocation. In the retraction of the beater the valves open, andallow of such `retraction without withdrawing the water.

If desired, any known mechanical arrangement may be adopted, incombination with the operating lever and arm, to lengthen or shorten thestroke of the beater, so that the machine will operate upon the iinestas well as the coarsest fabrics.l

I am aware that it is not new to provide the horizontally reciprocatingplunger of a washingmachine with a pivoted valve, which opens on theback stroke of the plunger, and allows the water to pass through, butcloses and drives the Water before the plunger in its forward movement,for the same is shown in patent granted August l0, 1875, to Joseph lowerhalf of the spaces between such plates, With valves h, closing the lowerhalf of these constructed and arranged substantially as despaces,constructed and arranged substanscribed and shown. tally as describedand shown. Y

2. In a washing-machine the Wall D dividing the boX intotwo parts, andperforated only MERVIN M' SANDERS in its lower half, in combination withthe re- Witnesses: ciprocating beater G, constructed to form a C HAs. J.HUNT,

number of vertical spaces b, and provided H. S. SPRAGUE.

